NDR Kammerkonzert

Flute meets harp – spherical sound magic

Surprises are inevitable when two instruments from completely different families come together, as is the case with the combination of flute and harp. Although there are not too many original works for this instrumentation, composers of the late Romantic and Impressionist periods in particular were repeatedly attracted to this instrumental combination – after all, it promised a new kind of spherical sound magic. The enormous dynamic richness of the harp and the poetic lines of the flute complement each other beautifully, as quickly became apparent. Transcriptions of solo sonatas for piano and flute, for example, have repeatedly been re-instrumented for harp, as can also be observed in Poulenc’s sonata. If you hear the piece in this combination, hardly anyone will miss the concert grand.